Play Meter
Issue: 1981 October 15 - Vol 7 Num 19 - Page 10
Buyers' Guide
The following section presents a comprehensive display of coin-operated amusement games actively n:'arketed in the
United States in recent years. Manufacturers, with few exceptions, have furnished PLAY METER w1th p~otos and
pertinent information on the included pinball games marketed since 1976, video games and arcade games smce 19_78,
table games -pool, foos, and shuffle -since 1976, and phonographs since 1974. Various other games -includmg
novelty, card, wall games, and kiddie rides -are displayed.
The items represent not only games that are currently in production, but also games that have long been out of
production but are still in use. In some instances, manufacturers have declined to submit photos or information on
various older machines. The editors of PlAY METER have made thorough efforts to pursue materials for the Guide and
are in the belief that machines not featured here represent an insignificant percentage of machines in current use.
In some cases, manufacturers have produced nearly duplicate machines of their own original model. Generally,
pinball duplications occurred when a manufacturer decided to make a solid ~tate version of a previously issued
mechanical or one- player version. At times, a manufacturer may change the backglass of the machine when it is
reproduced with different capacities, but the playfield remains the same. We have pictured the latest model-in most
cases-when these situations occurred, and earlier efforts are explained in a footnote. When a video game was
duplicated by a cocktail table model, we have chosen to feature the upright model in almost all cases.
Some pool tables pictured here are pieces with initial production dates prior to 1976. These tables have been included
here when the manufacturer has indicated that the same model is still in production, or at least was still in production in
1976.
We offer the following "Buyer' s Guide" of games, listed alphabetically by manufacturers, within the categories of
games, except when production requirements ruled out alphabetical listing.
The listings are chronological, with the more recent 1981 models included when their information and photos were
available to PlAY METER by August 1, 1981.
From time to time, a particular machine might represent a particular milestone for a manufacturer, and when such a
factor prevailed, we ha~e ~ried to r~cog_nize ~nd footnote it, to give our r~aders all the useful information possible.
We h~pe that you w1ll fmd our p1ctonal gUide a useful reference tool for Identifying proposed purchases of new and
used equ1pment, now and in the future. In light of such use, we hope that you will keep the " Buyer' s Guide" in an
immediately available place for further study.
-The 'Editors
A&A ... . .. . ... .. .... . .. . ......... 131
A.D.I .. ...... .. . . .......... . ...... 104
American Shuffleboard
table games ..... . . . . . . . ..... . 104
shuffleboards . .. ... . . . ...... . . 122
Amstar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72, 135
Arachnid .. . ............. . .. . .. . .. 131
Atari
pins . . ...... . .. .. . . .......... . . 70
video/ arcade . .. . ........ . ..... 34
cocktails . ... . ...... .. ... . . . .. 124
Bafco ... . ... . . . .... . ............. 114
Bally . . . . ...... . ... . .. . ...... .. .. .. 36
B.C. Mfg .... . ..... . ........... . ... 131
Bio-Rhythm .. ......... . . . .. . .... . 131
Brunswick . .... . .... ... ... . ....... 104
Carousel ............. . ........ . .. 114
Centuri
pins .. . .. . ..... . .... . ...... . ... 43
arcade/ video .. ..... .. . . ....... 72
cocktails .. . .. . .... . .......... 124
phonographs . . ....... . ..... .. . 32
Cinematronics ... .. ............ . . .. 77
Computer Kinetics .. .. .... . ....... 140
Data East ... . ......... ... ... . . 77, 124
Dynamo . ... ............. . . .. 104, 106
Elcon
video/ arcade ............ . ... . . 78
card games .......... . ........ 124
cocktails ..... . .... . . . .... . ... 135
Electro-Mobiltechnik . . . ... . .. . . . . . 115
Electro-Sport ................ ... ... 78
Exidy ....... . ......... . . . ..... 78, 125
Game-a-Tron
video . . .. . ..... . .... . ..... .. . . 82
card games .... .. ... . .. . .... . . 136
10
Game Plan
pins ....... . ... . ........ . . .. ... 44
cocktails .. . . . ... .. ... . ... .. .. 136
video .. . ........ .. .. . ... .. .... 82
Gametronix ... . ..... .. ... .... .. .. 135
Gino Rodina . . ..... . . . . .. .... . . . .. 115
Gottlieb
pins ..... . .. . .... . .. . ... . ...... 52
videos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55, 82
Gremlin/ Sega
video/ arcade ........ . .... . 84,124
wall games .. .. . ........... . .. 146
Imperial Billiard ... . ...... . .... . ... 106
lntermark ........ .. ...... . ....... 135
International Billiard .... . .. . .... . . 106
Irving Kaye .. . ......... . .. .. ... . .. 106
Meltec . ... ....... . .... .. .. .. ... . . . 91
Merit Industries . . . .. . . . . . ... . .... 138
Midway
video/ arcade .. . . . .. . . . .... . ... 91
cocktails . ......... . . . ..... .. . 139
Mike Munves . .. .. ........... . . . .. 132
Namco ..... . . . ..... .. ........ .. ... 94
Nanao ... .. ...... . ... . . . .......... 94
Nichibutsu .. . . . . . . . ... . .. .. ....... 94
Nintendo . .. .. . . . ........ . .. . . 94, 126
NSM . . .. .... . . .. ........ . ....... . . 14
Pacific Novelty .. . ... . ......... . .. . 132
R.) . Newborough . . .... . . ... ...... 116
Rock-Oia ...... ... .. . . . .. . .. . .. 16, 95
Rowe .. . ... . .. .. .. . ........... .. . . 18
Seeburg ..... . ..... . . . ...... . ...... 26
Sircoma . ..... . . .. . ... .. . . ........ 136
Status Games .. . . ...... . . . . .. ..... 139
Stern
pins ..... . ... . .. . ... ... ........ 56
videos .. .. . ... . ....... . ..... .. 94
snuffleboard .................. 122
Sun bird ......... . ... .. . . .. . . . . . .. 140
Taito
arcade/ video ............... . .. 96
cocktails . .................... 136
Tournament Soccer ...... . . . .... .. 109
Twelve Signs ......... . . . .... . ..... 133
U.B.I.
table games .... . ... .. . . .... . . 109
a rcade .... . ............... .. . 100
Universal USA
videos .... . ................... 99
cocktails .. .. . . ........ . ... .. . 126
Universal Visual ......... . .. . ... . . . 133
U.S. Billiards
arcade/ video . .......... . . . . . . 100
table games . . . ....... . .. ... .. 110
cocktails .......... . . . ...... . . 135
UTEC . . .. .... ........ ..... .. . .. .. 120
Valley
table games ..... . . .. .. .. ..... 111
cocktails . ... . . . ....... . ...... 133
Vectorbeam ... . .. . .... . .......... 100
Vending International . . . . ......... 133
Venture line
card games .. . .... . . . ......... 126
cocktails ... .. .............. . . 139
Willia ms
pins . .. . .. ... .... .. . ........... 59
video .... . . .. . . ... . . .. ....... 102
shuffleboards .. . . . . . ....... . .. 122
Wurlitzer ... . ..... .. ..... . .. . .. . ... 30
Zamperla
novelty . .... . .... . ............ 140
kiddie rides .... . ....... . ..... 120
Zila . . . ..... .. . .. . . ........ . .... . . 140
Zytronics ............ . .. . . . . . ..... 140
PlAY METER, O cto ber 15, 1981
The following section presents a comprehensive display of coin-operated amusement games actively n:'arketed in the
United States in recent years. Manufacturers, with few exceptions, have furnished PLAY METER w1th p~otos and
pertinent information on the included pinball games marketed since 1976, video games and arcade games smce 19_78,
table games -pool, foos, and shuffle -since 1976, and phonographs since 1974. Various other games -includmg
novelty, card, wall games, and kiddie rides -are displayed.
The items represent not only games that are currently in production, but also games that have long been out of
production but are still in use. In some instances, manufacturers have declined to submit photos or information on
various older machines. The editors of PlAY METER have made thorough efforts to pursue materials for the Guide and
are in the belief that machines not featured here represent an insignificant percentage of machines in current use.
In some cases, manufacturers have produced nearly duplicate machines of their own original model. Generally,
pinball duplications occurred when a manufacturer decided to make a solid ~tate version of a previously issued
mechanical or one- player version. At times, a manufacturer may change the backglass of the machine when it is
reproduced with different capacities, but the playfield remains the same. We have pictured the latest model-in most
cases-when these situations occurred, and earlier efforts are explained in a footnote. When a video game was
duplicated by a cocktail table model, we have chosen to feature the upright model in almost all cases.
Some pool tables pictured here are pieces with initial production dates prior to 1976. These tables have been included
here when the manufacturer has indicated that the same model is still in production, or at least was still in production in
1976.
We offer the following "Buyer' s Guide" of games, listed alphabetically by manufacturers, within the categories of
games, except when production requirements ruled out alphabetical listing.
The listings are chronological, with the more recent 1981 models included when their information and photos were
available to PlAY METER by August 1, 1981.
From time to time, a particular machine might represent a particular milestone for a manufacturer, and when such a
factor prevailed, we ha~e ~ried to r~cog_nize ~nd footnote it, to give our r~aders all the useful information possible.
We h~pe that you w1ll fmd our p1ctonal gUide a useful reference tool for Identifying proposed purchases of new and
used equ1pment, now and in the future. In light of such use, we hope that you will keep the " Buyer' s Guide" in an
immediately available place for further study.
-The 'Editors
A&A ... . .. . ... .. .... . .. . ......... 131
A.D.I .. ...... .. . . .......... . ...... 104
American Shuffleboard
table games ..... . . . . . . . ..... . 104
shuffleboards . .. ... . . . ...... . . 122
Amstar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72, 135
Arachnid .. . ............. . .. . .. . .. 131
Atari
pins . . ...... . .. .. . . .......... . . 70
video/ arcade . .. . ........ . ..... 34
cocktails . ... . ...... .. ... . . . .. 124
Bafco ... . ... . . . .... . ............. 114
Bally . . . . ...... . ... . .. . ...... .. .. .. 36
B.C. Mfg .... . ..... . ........... . ... 131
Bio-Rhythm .. ......... . . . .. . .... . 131
Brunswick . .... . .... ... ... . ....... 104
Carousel ............. . ........ . .. 114
Centuri
pins .. . .. . ..... . .... . ...... . ... 43
arcade/ video .. ..... .. . . ....... 72
cocktails .. . .. . .... . .......... 124
phonographs . . ....... . ..... .. . 32
Cinematronics ... .. ............ . . .. 77
Computer Kinetics .. .. .... . ....... 140
Data East ... . ......... ... ... . . 77, 124
Dynamo . ... ............. . . .. 104, 106
Elcon
video/ arcade ............ . ... . . 78
card games .......... . ........ 124
cocktails ..... . .... . . . .... . ... 135
Electro-Mobiltechnik . . . ... . .. . . . . . 115
Electro-Sport ................ ... ... 78
Exidy ....... . ......... . . . ..... 78, 125
Game-a-Tron
video . . .. . ..... . .... . ..... .. . . 82
card games .... .. ... . .. . .... . . 136
10
Game Plan
pins ....... . ... . ........ . . .. ... 44
cocktails .. . . . ... .. ... . ... .. .. 136
video .. . ........ .. .. . ... .. .... 82
Gametronix ... . ..... .. ... .... .. .. 135
Gino Rodina . . ..... . . . . .. .... . . . .. 115
Gottlieb
pins ..... . .. . .... . .. . ... . ...... 52
videos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55, 82
Gremlin/ Sega
video/ arcade ........ . .... . 84,124
wall games .. .. . ........... . .. 146
Imperial Billiard ... . ...... . .... . ... 106
lntermark ........ .. ...... . ....... 135
International Billiard .... . .. . .... . . 106
Irving Kaye .. . ......... . .. .. ... . .. 106
Meltec . ... ....... . .... .. .. .. ... . . . 91
Merit Industries . . . .. . . . . . ... . .... 138
Midway
video/ arcade .. . . . .. . . . .... . ... 91
cocktails . ......... . . . ..... .. . 139
Mike Munves . .. .. ........... . . . .. 132
Namco ..... . . . ..... .. ........ .. ... 94
Nanao ... .. ...... . ... . . . .......... 94
Nichibutsu .. . . . . . . . ... . .. .. ....... 94
Nintendo . .. .. . . . ........ . .. . . 94, 126
NSM . . .. .... . . .. ........ . ....... . . 14
Pacific Novelty .. . ... . ......... . .. . 132
R.) . Newborough . . .... . . ... ...... 116
Rock-Oia ...... ... .. . . . .. . .. . .. 16, 95
Rowe .. . ... . .. .. .. . ........... .. . . 18
Seeburg ..... . ..... . . . ...... . ...... 26
Sircoma . ..... . . .. . ... .. . . ........ 136
Status Games .. . . ...... . . . . .. ..... 139
Stern
pins ..... . ... . .. . ... ... ........ 56
videos .. .. . ... . ....... . ..... .. 94
snuffleboard .................. 122
Sun bird ......... . ... .. . . .. . . . . . .. 140
Taito
arcade/ video ............... . .. 96
cocktails . .................... 136
Tournament Soccer ...... . . . .... .. 109
Twelve Signs ......... . . . .... . ..... 133
U.B.I.
table games .... . ... .. . . .... . . 109
a rcade .... . ............... .. . 100
Universal USA
videos .... . ................... 99
cocktails .. .. . . ........ . ... .. . 126
Universal Visual ......... . .. . ... . . . 133
U.S. Billiards
arcade/ video . .......... . . . . . . 100
table games . . . ....... . .. ... .. 110
cocktails .......... . . . ...... . . 135
UTEC . . .. .... ........ ..... .. . .. .. 120
Valley
table games ..... . . .. .. .. ..... 111
cocktails . ... . . . ....... . ...... 133
Vectorbeam ... . .. . .... . .......... 100
Vending International . . . . ......... 133
Venture line
card games .. . .... . . . ......... 126
cocktails ... .. .............. . . 139
Willia ms
pins . .. . .. ... .... .. . ........... 59
video .... . . .. . . ... . . .. ....... 102
shuffleboards .. . . . . . ....... . .. 122
Wurlitzer ... . ..... .. ..... . .. . .. . ... 30
Zamperla
novelty . .... . .... . ............ 140
kiddie rides .... . ....... . ..... 120
Zila . . . ..... .. . .. . . ........ . .... . . 140
Zytronics ............ . .. . . . . . ..... 140
PlAY METER, O cto ber 15, 1981
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).